Electric controlled spotlight



- A. CAMINETTI, JR

ELECTRIC CONTROLLE'D SPOTLIGHT April 30, 1929.

Filed Nov. 2, 1927 right.

Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES Parent orties.'

ELECTRIC GNTROLLED SPOTLXGHT.

Application med November 2, 192'?. sei-iai No. 230,397.

My invention has for its object a dirigiblc spotlight adapted to use on vehicles.; and vincorporated therewith is mechanism and means for vautomatically preventing or cutting out the illumination of the light over a selected area of projection for the purpose of preventing the blinding effect on others in front thereof, while emitting full illumination over other portions of the projected area within the range of lamp movement.

-Other objects will appearfrom` the drawing and specifications which follow.

These objects I attain by mounting incooperation with movable portions of the mechanism, electric conducting and switching means whereby upon a directive movement within a predetermined range the electric conductivity to the lamp is rupted.

By referring to the accompanying ing my invention will be made clear.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of my, spotlight mounted upon the forward portion of a con ventional automobile. l

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan viewof Figs. 1 and 2 when the lamp is tilted to project a beam above the horizontal'plane 12, the lamp being shown in full lines when turned to the left and in dotted lines when turned to the Fig. 4 is a fragmentary showing of the upper portions of my lamp and with the switching and operating means shown in section.

Fig. 5 is a part view and part section of the parts shown in Fig. 4 and at right angles thereto.

Figs. 6 and 7 are side view details of the electric switching means and its operation. Figs. 8 and 9 are plan views of Figs. 6 and. 7 respectively.

Figs. 10 and 11 are details of the switch parts. i

Fig. 12 is a view of a wall in front of the vehicle of-Fig. 1 showing vby the dark area those portions which are obscured throughout the range of lamp operation and bythe light portion is indicated the area which may be covered -by the full range of spotlight movement.

Throughout the figures similar numerals refer to identical parts.

A conventional vehicle is shown by the internumeral 1 on which is mounted my spotlight 2, adapted to swing tl'n'ough a vertical. range shown by the angle 3 and` through a horizontal range indicated. by the angle Ll.

The lamp 2 is adaptedto project a single beam which illuminates the roadway in front of the vehicle as shown at 5 when the lamp is turned to the left, and-'as shown at 6, when turned to the right, and an y single portion'ofthe roadway in front below the plane 12, but is prevented from any possible illumination of the center field above the plane 12., l

' The lamp is supported from the arm 7 andis adapted to swing about the horizontal pivotal axis 8, and also about thevertical axis 9, thus having a range of universal movement.

The lamp casing at 10 tain any conventional source of illumination as the incandescentlamp -11 and suitable` refiecting means not shown in detail butwellr known.l Y y It is desirable in a spotlight of this character to prevent a glaring projection in front of the vehicle which` would have a blinding effect upon other drivers, whereas it is very desirable to have side road illumination when desired as at 5 vor 6, and.

vcentral road illumination below the horizontal plane ..12 and withintherange of the angle.

The incandescent lamp. or light source 11 is energized by the conventional battery 13 through the brush'lt, insulated pin 15A and thence to the Contact arms 16, 16, the other pole of the battery being grounded as at 17,

and the other'side ofthe lamp being grounded at 18.

` Mounted upon the lamp casing 10 and insulated ytherefrom is the rack 19 carrying an insulating portion 20.

v The contact arms 16, l'arepivoted at 21 and are normally held inlthe position shown in. Fig. 7, by the spring 22 such that theyride upon the metallic surface of thegrack 19 throughout-its entire range ofmovement about the axis 9, whenever the lamp is directed to either side to cast the beams 5 or 6 or whenever it is tilted .downward below the plane 12.

`However, when the lamp vis directed forward above the plane 12 the contact armsV ride upon the insulation 20, the circuit is interrupted and the lamp is not illuminated unless the lamp is rotated about the vertical is adapted tor conaxis 9to the right or left so as to come Within the beam range er 6 in Awhich case `full illumination during the tilting of the lamp on the axis 8 is att-ained.

The possible projected area within any portion of which the spotlight beam may be directed against a vertical plane is therevtore as shown in Fig. 12 at 5, and 41 While the dark portion 40 is that over which the `projected beam will be automatically cut out. This .action takes place through the insulating block 30 riding againstfthe pin 3l when 4the beam is directed straight tor- Ward and above the plane l2 causing the oontact arms to swing 'from the'position shown in Fig. 7 Vinto the position shown in Fig. 6, when, due to their riding upon `the insulating member the lamp is cutout. This movement is best shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The pin lbeing upon fixed portions of the bracket :7 is in the path ot movement ot' block as the lamp is rotatedabout the vertical axis 9, so that when the lamp is turned to either Aside las shoivnin Fig. 9 the block 30 riding free of the pin 81 enn ables the contact arms to maintain the circuit through the rack 19 as shoWnin Fig. 7, Whereas when the lamp 'is directed straight ahead and abovethe plane 12, the block 30 riding upon the pin 31 fi'orces the Contact arms downward on tothe insulated member 2O interrupting the circuit as shown in Figs. 6 and'8.

The range of Aprojerjted beam illumination will therefore be as shown in Fig. 12 at, 5, 6 and 41 and the dark 'portion 40 directly lin front of and above the plane 12 corresponds with the range Within which aplproaching vehicle drivers are protected 'from any glare from the spotlight by the automatic dimming of the lamp Within 'this 'latter range ot movement, Whereasthe operator of the vehicle l may employ the lamp freely over any portion ot thesideiareas 5 and G securing any specific side illumination desired in lamps ot' this character and aiso may secure additional illumination throughout the central road surface and object-s thereonbelow the plane 12 as shown at Ill.

lt will .nonv be apparent that changes in the details ot' construction and variations in the circuit connections may be. employed without departing from the spirit of my invention and l wish to be understood as claiming such variations, the mechanism which I have here described -being but one ot thel preferred torms ot my invention.

I claim:

A dirigible spot lamp comprising an energizing circuit and a lamp positioned Within a light projector casing, said casing mounted on a pivotal axis in airframe, .said trame rotatably mounted'on a support and on an axis at right angles to said pivotal axis, in combination With svvitchmeans interposed in said circuit and `comprising `a lever ot the first order :pivotally mount-eden said trame, spring means normally reta1ning said lever 1n a predetermined position,

a trip on said support against which lone end of said lever brushes thereby forcing,

said lever out of said position vvhen the trame is within a predetermined range otl movement, a contact Vblock carried by said end ot said lever said `block having an insulating portion `positioned to break circuit `casing Vand `normally Y engaging the other on said first named pivotal axis While said trip is in engagement' with said other end of said lever. 'i

' vANTHONY GAMINETTLJR; 

